Barrel-cover



Patented Dec. 27, I898.

No. 6I6,447.

W. P. BURKE.

BARREL COVEIL (Application filed Sept. 24, 1897.)

(No Model.)

0 H Ht WHLTER BUR/1'5.

H S HTTOR V K H/IT/VESSES m: mums Pnms nov PNOYCHJTNO" wwwrnon. a c.

IVALTER P. BURKE, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

BARREL-COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,447, dated December2*), 1898. Application filed September 24, I897. erial No. 652,843. (Nomodel.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WALTER P. BURKE, of St. Paul, Ramsey county,Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Barrel-Govers, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in covers, made of lattice or network, for bar rels containing apples or other articles, its object beingin particular to provide an improved automaticallyactuated attachmenttherefor for securing the same to the barrel.

To this end my invention consists in securing above the cover atransverse rod and arranging on the opposite ends'of said rod slidableclamps connected by a retracting-spring. Said clamps are formed withprongs or teeth adapted to be embedded in the outside of the barrel asthe clamps are drawn toward each other by the efiect of theiractuating-spring.

My invention further consists in the construction and combinationhereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figurel is a plan view of my improved invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross=sectionof the same, on line 0; 0c of Fig. 1, shown applied to a barrel.

The top or cover is of the ordinary construction, consisting of the ring2, provided with wire network 3. My improvement consists of the rod 4.,extending centrally across the top of the cover and secured at 5 to theopposite sides of the metal ring 2. Upon opposite ends of the rod 4slide similar clamps 6, these clamps being connected by a coilspring 7.The ends 8 of the clamps are curved downwardly and inwardly to form theprongs or teeth 9, and which when the cover is in place, as shown inFig. 2, are embedded in the side of the barrel, and thus securely holdthe cover in place.

In use the cover is placed in position upon the top of the barrel, withthe clamp upon one side in engaging position, the opposite clamp beingthen pulled outward, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the prongson the clamps placed against the side of the barrel, when the tension ofthe spring will cause the teeth of the clamp to be embedded in the sideof the barrel.

An important advantage of my improved construction is that it may beused whether the top retaining-hoops are upon the barrel or not. In usethese top hoops of the barrels frequently come off, causing the barrelto bulge. If my improved construction of barrel-cover is used with abarrel in this condition, the annular ring 2 of the cover engaging, asit does, the outer end of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 2, and the prongs9 of the clamps being embedded in the staves of the barrel will causethe staves to be held in position and the cover to be as firmly securedas though the hoops were secured around the barrel in the ordinarymanner. Those bar'- rel-covers now provided with securin g means cannotsatisfactorily be used upon barrels which have lost their topretaining-hoops, thereby causing spreading of the staves.

I claim- .1. In combination with a barrel or similar receptacle, and theremovable top or cover for the same, of the transverse bar or rodsecured to said cover, the clamps slidably arranged upon said rod, andprovided with inwardly-projecting prongs, and the means forautomatically drawing said clamps inward to force said prongs into thesides of the receptacle'.

2. In combination with a barrel and its removable cover, the pair ofclamps for engagin g the exterior of the barrel, their interconnectingrod and their common actuatingspring. a

3. 'In combination with a barrel and its removable cover, the pair ofsimilar clamps having prongs for engaging the exterior of the barrel,their diametric interconnecting rod, and the spring carried by said rodfor actuating both said clamps.

4:. In combination with a barrel and its removable, wire-screen cover,the diametric rod upon said cover, the pair of U -shaped clamps workingon said rod and having prongs to engage the periphery of the barrel, andthe common actuating-sprin g for said clamps carried by said rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER P. BURKE.

Witnesses:

H. S. JOHNSON, MINNIE L. THAUWALD.

